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Esther Tuke letter to Martha Routh, 7th mo 8th 1794.

Page 1

H-18-a
[page 1]
My Dearly beloved Freind York 7th mo 8th 1794
Thy Sisterly Communication was refreshing instructive & edifying. it arrived
yesterday morning Just when our valued freinds J & H Grant (who gladly par
much to
=took) were taking Leave, after spending six days with us,^mutual Comfort-
I beleive they thot their time well bestow'd, tho' our principal conversation was
on common things, yet a Savour of Life attended which render'd the Converse
pleasant & instructive, & in some opportunities, particularly our School
Meeting, seem'd to bear the Comparison of the water, proceeding from un=
=der the Threshhold etc, insomuch that JG expressed the satisfaction
he had felt whilst here, & particularly in that opportunity was beyond all
Conception, & out of the power of words to set forth. His diffidence is so
great, that he thot he should be ashamed to sit with us, but his heart got so open'd
as to hand very suitable portions to our Girls, & great encouragement, to the
Teachers. I trust it was an opportunity of divine favour which will be
Long remembered, tho' much of our Counsel was cast on floating minds.
My mind was very low when they came, not only from my common com=
=plicated infirmities, but from fears respecting our great undertaking par=
=ticularly the new house, but J.G. & R.B., revived me, not doubting it was
under divine direction, which wou'd have a reward, far exceeding the
risque of any little property. ~ It might seem a little unfeeling
to tell thee, of so many outward things, but I think little changes are
necessary which thou hast often experienced, & hope thou wilt when thou
hast enter'd the Land of promise now in veiw for it wou'd
be very unsafe always to wear the Royal Robes. Our freindship thou
knowest is on that Rock , which cannot be moved, & I hope our feet will abide
upon it, thro' all the Changes of a weary pilgrimage, to the land of Rest.
& tho' thyself & W.R. with his family , have been almost the constant com=
panions of my mind, since tho yearly mtg, yet a sense of my own weak=
=ness like that of Jeremiah, when drawn out of the Prison by Rags made
me Conclude Silence, much better for me, than to expose my Situation
at a time when Blessings are pour'd upon you by the heads of the Tribes
& prayers offered up like Incense. ~ in which according to my feible abili=
=ty, my heart writes: & tho' thou my beloved freind, may have some deep
Baptisms in a distant Land, & perhaps be ready to Conclude as Dear

H-18-a
[page 1]
My Dearly beloved Freind York 7th mo 8th 1794
Thy Sisterly Communication was refreshing instructive & edifying. it arrived
yesterday morning Just when our valued freinds J & H Grant (who gladly par
much to
=took) were taking Leave, after spending six days with us,^mutual Comfort-
I beleive they thot their time well bestow'd, tho' our principal conversation was
on common things, yet a Savour of Life attended which render'd the Converse
pleasant & instructive, & in some opportunities, particularly our School
Meeting, seem'd to bear the Comparison of the water, proceeding from un=
=der the Threshhold etc, insomuch that JG expressed the satisfaction
he had felt whilst here, & particularly in that opportunity was beyond all
Conception, & out of the power of words to set forth. His diffidence is so
great, that he thot he should be ashamed to sit with us, but his heart got so open'd
as to hand very suitable portions to our Girls, & great encouragement, to the
Teachers. I trust it was an opportunity of divine favour which will be
Long remembered, tho' much of our Counsel was cast on floating minds.
My mind was very low when they came, not only from my common com=
=plicated infirmities, but from fears respecting our great undertaking par=
=ticularly the new house, but J.G. & R.B., revived me, not doubting it was
under divine direction, which wou'd have a reward, far exceeding the
risque of any little property. ~ It might seem a little unfeeling
to tell thee, of so many outward things, but I think little changes are
necessary which thou hast often experienced, & hope thou wilt when thou
hast enter'd the Land of promise now in veiw for it wou'd
be very unsafe always to wear the Royal Robes. Our freindship thou
knowest is on that Rock , which cannot be moved, & I hope our feet will abide
upon it, thro' all the Changes of a weary pilgrimage, to the land of Rest.
& tho' thyself & W.R. with his family , have been almost the constant com=
panions of my mind, since tho yearly mtg, yet a sense of my own weak=
=ness like that of Jeremiah, when drawn out of the Prison by Rags made
me Conclude Silence, much better for me, than to expose my Situation
at a time when Blessings are pour'd upon you by the heads of the Tribes
& prayers offered up like Incense. ~ in which according to my feible abili=
=ty, my heart writes: & tho' thou my beloved freind, may have some deep
Baptisms in a distant Land, & perhaps be ready to Conclude as Dear